Hydraulic support assembly for gyratory crushers



March 20, 1962 R. s. SAAR! 3,026,051

HYDRAULIC SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR GYRATORY CRUSHERS Filed Sept. 15, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

March 20, 1962 R. s. SAARl 3,0

HYDRAULIC SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR GYRATORY CRUSHERS Filed Sept. 15, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,026,051 HYDRAULIC SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR GYRATORYCRUSHERS Robert S. Saari, New Berlin, Wis., assignor to NordbergManufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin FiledSept. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 840,096 6 Claims. (Cl. 241213) My inventionrelates to an improvement in bearing and lubricating means for gyratorycrushers. One purpose is to provide improved lubricating and coolingmeans for the step bearing of a gyratory crusher shaft.

Another purpose is to provide an improved step bearing assembly for sucha shaft.

Another purpose is to provide means for maintaining all components ofthe step bearing assembly in contact at all normal times.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a typical gyratory crusher to which theinvention may be applied, with parts in section and parts broken away toindicate the crusher; and

FIGURE 2 is an axial section, on an enlarged scale, illustrating thestep bearing assembly and adjacent parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 generally indicates the outer frame of agyratory crusher within which is positioned a plurality of members 2forming a bowl liner which defines the exterior of the crushing cavity.The frame 1 includes a lower portion 3 which has a central hub 4 withinwhich rotates an eccentrically apertured sleeve 5. The sleeve 5 has abottom enlargement 6, best seen in FIGURE 2, to which is secured a bevelgear 7. Extending downwardly and outwardly from the hub 4 is an apron orflared sleeve 8, to the lower edge of which is secured the bottomclosure assembly, generally indicated at A. This assembly has an outerflange 9 secured by bolts 10 to the lower edge of the sleeve 8. 11indicates a bearing plate carrying any suitable bearing assembly 12, thedetails of which do notform part of the present invention, for rotatablysupporting the enlargement 6 of the eccentric sleeve 5. The eccentricsleeve is rotated, for example, by a pinion 14 on a drive shaft 15connected with any suitable power source.

B generally indicates a crusher head and shaft assembly, including thecrusher head 20, an upper shaft extension 21, and a lower shaftextension 22. The upper shaft extension 21 is centered in any suitablebearing as sembly 23 in a central hub 24, from which extend spider arms25 to the member 26 resting upon and secured to the upper edge of thecircumferential main frame 1. The lower shaft extension 22 extends intothe eccentric aperture of the sleeve 5. It will be understood that inresponse to rotation of the pinion 14 in mesh with the bevel gear 7 theeccentric sleeve is rotated, and its rotation imparts a gyratorymovement to the lower end of the head and shaft assemby. The gyration ofthe lower shaft extension 22 by the rotation of the eccentricallyapertured sleeve 5 imparts a crushing movement to the head which gyrateswithin the bowl liner structure 2.

' The present invention is directed primarily to the bear- Ice:3,026,051

ing assembly for the lower end of the shaft. The member A has a central,generally cylindrical, downwardly extending portion 30 to which issecured the bottom closure plate 31. Within the cylindrical space thusformed is movably positioned a composite piston assembly. It mayinclude, for example, a bottom plate 32 suitably sealed as at 33. On itrests an intermediate plate 34. Upon it, in turn, rests an upper pistoncomponent having a side wall 35 and a unitary top wall 36. The side wall35 normally engages the bearing surface 34a about the outer edge of theupper surface of the plate 34. Guide pins 37 are mounted on the plate 34and extend into appropriate apertures 37a in the lower edge of thecircumferential wall 35. The top of the piston component thus formedcarries a bearing plate 38 having a generally horizontal plane bearingsurface 38a. The plate 38 is suitably secured to or held againstmovement in relation to the piston wall 36. Slidable upon the surface38a of the plate 38 is a washer 39 having a bottom plane surface 39::and a top spherical concave surface 39b. Suitably secured to the bottomof the shaft extension 22 is a bearing plate 40 having a lower sphericalbearing surface 40a normally engaging and conforming to the concaveupper surface 3% of the washer 39. It is suitably secured to and heldagainst movement in relation to the lower end of the shaft 22.

Within the space in the piston surrounded by the circumferential pistonwall 35 are springs 45. Any suitable number may be employed. I find fourto be convenient. Each of the springs is guided on a centering member46, shown as mounted on the plate 34. It will be understood that thesprings 45 are normally under compression, and that they are effectiveto keep all parts of the above described bearing assembly in contact.The importance of this will be described in detail below.

The gyratory crusher herein described and shown is of the type in whichthe crusher head and shaft assembly is supported from below by a unitwhich may be raised and lowered by hydraulic pressure. The details ofthe hydraulic system do not of themselves form part of the presentinvention. It will be understood, however, that suitable means may beemployed to admit a fluid, preferably a liquid, under pressure in thespace below the piston assembly and, specifically, below its bottomplate 32. I illustrate, for example, the pipe extending from anysuitable source of pressure to a fitting 51 through which itcommunicates with a duct 52 formed in the thickness of the downwardlyextending portion or Wall 30. This duct connects, as at 53, to thecompression space 54 below the bottom piston plate 32. It will beunderstood that upon the admission of a liquid under pressure to thepressure space 54 the entire piston structure may be elevated, thusraising the crusher head and shaft assembly. It is elevated by theelevation of the above described piston structure. At all positions, ofelevation the weight of the crusher shaft and head is supported on thebearing plate 40 which rests on, conforms to, and is movable across theupwardly concave spherical bearing surface 3% of the washer 39. It willbe understood that the parts are so proportioned that the shaft and headassembly B acts as if suspended at the point X in FIGURE 1, and as thelower end of the shaft 22 is gyrated the opposed spherical surfaces 3%and 40a maintain their contact, and the washer 39 slides across theplane surface 38a of the bear- Patented Mar. 20, 1962 ing plate 38 ofthe piston structure. The springs 45 maintain all parts in engagementeven though occasional abnormal movements of the shaft, as will laterappear, might tend to withdraw the shaft upwardly from the washer 39.

In order to lubricate and cool the above described structure I providethe following arrangement: An oil pipe 60 delivers oil through the duct61 about the wall 35 of the piston. The duct 61 is in line with acircumferential channel or reduction 62 in the outer surface of thepiston wall 35 which is of sufficient length as to be in communicationwith the duct 61 at all normal positions of the piston. A plurality ofopenings 63 permit the lubricant to escape upwardly into acircumferential lubricating space 64, which Surrounds and is incommunication with the outer edges of the bearing plate 38, the washer39 and the hearing plate 40. I find it advantageous to employ generallyradial oil passages 65 in the bearing plate 38, and 66 in the bearingplate 40. These are provided with branches or extensions 65a and 66a,which extend, respectively, to communicate with the lower and the upperbearing surfaces of the washer 39, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus alubricant under pressure is directed inwardly into both pressure plates,and through such pressure plates reaches the hearing surfaces betweenthe pressure plates and the washer 39 which lies between them. A secondlubricant pipe 76 delivers a lubricant under pressure through the duct71 to and head assembly, shown generally at B in FIGURE 1,

is centered at its upper end and is supported and gyrated at its lowerend. Normally, the piston assembly is maintained at a satisfactory levelor height by liquid in the pressure chamber 54 and in the system incommunication with it. Normally, the only relative motion of the variousparts of the step bearing assembly is that caused by the rotation of theeccentric sleeve 5, namely, the gymtion of the lower shaft extension 22.This causes merely a slight movement of the bearing plate 40 in relationto the upper surface of the washer 39, and a slight movementof thewasher 39 on the bearing plate 38.

Lubrication is maintained, and a cooling flow of oil is provided,through the above described passages 65 and 66. However, from time totime, pieces of material, rock, tramp iron, or the like, may go throughthe crushing cavity between the head 20 and the liners 2, which cause adifferent motion. Such an odd piece, instead of depressing the crushershaft, may form a fulcrum or pivot about which the crushing headrotates. The result may be a lifting of the main shaft which willactually withdraw the lower shaft extension 22 and its bearing plate 49from the washer 39. I therefore rely upon the springs 45, or othersuitable equivalent, to maintain a following action, to force the uppercomponent of the piston, and thus its top bearing plate 38, to followthe upward movement of the shaft. Thus the springs 45 are effective tohold the bearing plate '38 always in contact withthe lower flat surfaceof the washer 39, and to hold the upper concave surface of the washer 39at all times in contact with the downwardly spherical convex lowersurface of the bearing plate. This is importann'since, otherwise, if theshaft gyrates or moves somewhat before it descends, and the socket plateor washer 39 is out of contact with it, it will not thereafter contactthe washer in a proper seating position. These irregular movements maycause damage to the lower end of the shaft. During normal operation myspring 45 are somewhat compressed and provide an upward thrust or bias,due to the stored energy in the springs. Thus all parts of the stepbearing assembly are maintained in contact and no opportunity is givenfor displacement or undesired and damaging relation movement.

I claim:

1. In a step bearing structure for gyratory crushers, and in combinationwith an axially adjustable crusher shaft and means for gyrating it, acircumferential wall defining a generally cylindrical pressure chamber,a piston in said chamber, means for supplying fluid under pressure tosaid chamber and beneath said piston, an upwardly plane surfaced bearingplate at the top of said piston, a plano-concave washer having a planelower bearing surface slidably opposed thereto, a bearing plate securedto the lower end of the crusher shaft and having a downwardly convexspherical bearing surface slidably conforming to the concave sphericalupper surface of said washer, said piston including an upper and a lowercomponent, yielding means between said components and tending to thrustthe upper component and bearing plate at'the top of the piston againstthe plane surface of the washer and to maintain the washer in snugcontact with the bearing plate at the lower end of the crusher shaftduring movement of the crusher shaft, means for supplying a lubricatingand cooling liquid to said bearing plates and washer including alubricating duct extending through the circumferential wall intermediatethe ends of the piston, the piston being formed with a space incommunication with said pipe at all normal positions of the piston, thepiston being also formed to permit passage of lubricant upwardly to aspace above the piston and about said plates and washer, and generallyradial cooling passages in each of said bearing plates extendinginwardly from said space and in communication with the bearing surfacesof said washer.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that at least one of thebearing plates is formed with cooling passages transverse to said lastmentioned cooling passages and communicating with a bearing surface ofthe washer.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that both bearing platesare formed with cooling passages transverse to said last mentionedcooling passages and communicating with opposed bearing surfaces of thewasher.

4. In a step bearing structure for gyratory crushers, and in combinationwith an axially adjustable crusher shaft and means for gyrating it, acircumferential wall defining a generally cylindrical pressure chamber,a multi-part piston assembly in said chamber, means for supplying fluidunder pressure to the lower end of said chamber and beneath said pistonassembly, said piston assembly supporting a piano-concave washer havinga plane lower bearing surface slidably opposed to an underlying elementof the piston assembly and having a concave spherical upper bearingsurface opposed to and supporting a downwardly convex spherical bearingsurface at the lower end of the crusher shaft, and means for maintainingnormally continuous contact between the plane bearing surface of thewasher and the piston assembly and between the concave bearing surfaceof the washer and the crusher shaft, and to allow the piston assemblyand washer to follow the crusher shaft upon upward movement thereof,including one or more springs positioned within the piston assembly andnormally under compression between adjacent elements of the pistonassembly.

5. In a step bearing structure for gyratory crushers, and in combinationwith an axially adjustable crusher shaft and means for gyrating it, acircumferential wall defining a generally cylindrical pressure chamber,a piston in said chamber, means for supplying fluid under pressure tosaid chamber and beneath said piston. an up wardly plane surfacedbearing plate at the top of said piston, a plane-concave washer having aplane lower bearing surface slideably opposed thereto, a bearing platethat said yielding means include one or more springs in generallypermanent compression.

References Cited in the file of this patent the crusher shaft during allmovement of the crusher 10 2,448,936

shaft.

6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in UNITED STATESPATENTS Hullgren Feb. 2, 1892 Pessano Feb. 13, 1894 Johnson May 23, 1944Van Zandt Sept. 7, 1948 Becker Jan. 26, 1954

